Hasselbeck walking, Titans in wait and see mode

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP)

Whether the veteran quarterback is strong enough to start
against winless Indianapolis remains to be seen.

Munchak said Monday they will wait and see how Hasselbeck is
Wednesday when they take the field next for practice when the
quarterback starts moving around.

The coach said they hadn't heard anything yet on the MRI, but
assume the injury is on the mild side.

For anyone wondering if the Titans are tempted to use this
injury to give rookie Jake Locker his first NFL start, Munchak made
it clear chasing the team's first playoff berth since 2008 matters
most.

''We have to win these three games. If Matt's healthy, then Matt
will quarterback us. As far as Jake, he'll have plenty of time to
be our guy. So we wouldn't put him in just to give him experience.
We know we can win with him in there. We feel real good about what
we've seen in just the two games he's had a chance to play,''
Munchak said.

''Our thing is we have three huge games ahead of us, and we got
to take care of all three of those if we want to play
anymore.''

For a team expected to do very little in Munchak's first season,
the Titans find themselves a game out of the AFC's final wild-card
spot currently held by the New York Jets (8-5) who visit
Philadelphia (5-8) before hosting the Giants (7-6) and wrapping up
the regular season at Miami (4-9).

Tennessee missed a chance to keep pace with the Jets when Locker
was sacked on third-and-goal at the Saints 5 at the end of a 22-17
loss to New Orleans, which snapped a two-game winning streak.

The Titans are tied with Cincinnati and Oakland at 7-6, though
the Bengals have a 24-17 win on Nov. 6 over them as a
tiebreaker.

Cincinnati visits St. Louis before hosting Arizona and
Baltimore. Oakland hosts Detroit (8-5) with a trip to Kansas City
(5-8) while wrapping up the regular season at home against San
Diego (6-7).

The Titans visit winless Indianapolis before hosting
Jacksonville (4-9) and heading to Houston (10-3) where the Texans
have wrapped up the AFC South.

Tennessee's loss to New Orleans combined with Houston's win over
Cincinnati helped the Texans clinch their first AFC South title,
eliminating the Titans in the division. Munchak said that makes the
challenge simple now.

''We know we have to go in as a wild card. We just have to win
our games, take care of our business. We'll see them in a couple
weeks, and that game hopefully will mean a lot to us,'' Munchak
said of finishing the regular season at Houston.

Hasselbeck was hurt early in the second quarter against New
Orleans, though he filled in for rookie Jake Locker with one
completion in the fourth quarter before hopping to the
sideline.

Munchak said they feel they can win with either Hasselbeck or
Locker, but there's no reason to make a change at starter because
of an injury if the veteran is healthy enough to play.

''If Matt's not healthy, that's another conversation,'' Munchak
said.

Locker threw for 282 yards, the second-most in franchise history
by a rookie. Only Jacky Lee threw for more with 331 yards for the
then-Houston Oilers on Nov. 25, 1960, against the Boston Patriots.
Locker also ran for 36 yards and a touchdown.

Munchak said if Locker were to wind up starting against the
Colts, it would be easier than coming off the bench in relief as he
did in Atlanta on Nov. 20 and against the Saints.

The advantage would be having a few days to prepare and help
shape the offensive plan toward plays Locker likes.

''He's obviously waiting for that opportunity so when he does
have that position I would think he'd enjoy it,'' Munchak said.

Hasselbeck isn't the only injured player as the Titans try to
keep their playoff hopes alive Sunday at Indianapolis.

He was among six or seven Titans who had MRIs on Monday with
running back Javon Ringer's hand possibly the most serious. Munchak
said he didn't have information on them yet.

But Munchak said he thinks linebacker Akeem Ayers' shoulder is a
minor injury. Linebacker Gerald McRath (left knee/ankle) was carted
off the sideline, and receiver Nate Washington played despite not
practicing all week because of his left ankle. Cornerback Jason
McCourty, deactivated against New Orleans due to a concussion, was
cleared Monday and will practice Wednesday.

Notes: Munchak said he hadn't heard talk of a possible whistle
heard during the game with the Saints and that there wasn't much he
could say on that topic.

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